They really should have stayed in the Big 12. Joining the Big 10 has pretty much been the death knell in terms of Nebraska becoming anything close to resembling the national powerhouse that they were during the 90s for the foreseeable future. They've effectively become a regional mid-tier Big 10 program. I know their fans aren't happy with that realization. But, I see them get smacked around each week by bigger and more physical run-oriented Big 10 teams (like Minnesota, who rushed for 300 plus on them last night) and think that there's no way they'll be able to compete with Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin - and I'll even thrown in Michigan - on a yearly basis. You can argue, joining the Big 10 had the same affect on Penn State. They were big time in the 80s but took a step back after they joined the conference in 1993. They had the one undefeated season in '94 and a few other goods year since but have essentially become the "Auburn" of the Big 10 - which is just decent, I guess.
I believe if ND had joined the Big 10, it would have resigned us to the same fate of regional mid-tier Big 10 program status. We debate ad nauseum if and when ND can return elite national powerhouse. Admittedly, I'm not sure that we can. But we sure as hell have a better chance with the current ACC alignment than we would have if we were in the Big 10. The ACC connection gives us a pipeline to southern recruiting, we still have our NBC contract, we're not as banged up physically, on a weekly basis, as we would be in the Big 10, and we don't have to contend with Ohio State and Wisconsin ever year. If we had a full-blown Big 10 schedule each year, we'd top out at 9-3 or 8-4; perhaps 10-2 every blue moon, and our recruiting would be limited to 3 and 4 stars from the Midwest for the most part.